Clinical and structural features of sperm head vacuoles in men included in the in vitro fertilization programme.

Nina Fekonja,Eda Vrtacnik Bokal,Magda Tušek Žnidarič,Ivan Verdenik,Irma Virant-Klun,Katja Knez,Jasna Štrus

doi:10.1155/2014/927841

Abstract

The human sperm head vacuoles and their role in male infertility are still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical and ultrastructural features of human sperm head vacuoles in men included in the in vitro fertilization programme: men with normal (normozoospermia) and impaired sperm morphology (teratozoospermia). The sperm samples were observed under 6000-time magnification using motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME). The proportion of sperm with head vacuoles was evaluated and related to the outcome of in vitro fertilization. The sperm of men with impaired sperm morphology was characterized by a higher proportion of sperm head vacuoles. The sperm head vacuoles were related to impaired semen quality (sperm concentration, motility, and morphology) but were not influenced by male factors (semen volume, height, age, weight, or body mass index). Moreover, sperm head vacuoles were related to impaired fertilization rate merely after classical in vitro fertilization (IVF), while there was no relation to pregnancy. In a subgroup of men, the sperm was fixed and observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ultrastructural study revealed that sperm head vacuoles are large nuclear indentations of various sizes and positions, packed with membranous material organized in membrane whorls (MW).

Highlights

Male infertility can be related to abnormal morphology of spermatozoa
Using motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME), where living sperm cells are visualized with DIC Nomarski microscopy at magnification of 6000 times, some fine morphological structures are visible which might be useful to determine the quality of sperm
The sperm nucleus modelling during spermiogenesis involves nucleoproteins, microtubular manchette, and perinuclear material which is known to participate in the acrosome anchorage on the nucleus and constitutes the perinuclear theca [9]

Summary

Introduction

Male infertility can be related to abnormal morphology of spermatozoa. In the last years, there has been much debate on a new potential parameter of sperm quality and male fertility, sperm head vacuoles. Using motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME), where living sperm cells are visualized with DIC Nomarski microscopy at magnification of 6000 times, some fine morphological structures are visible which might be useful to determine the quality of sperm. This method shows small and larger surface concavities termed sperm vacuoles, usually located in the head of sperm cells. The nucleosome-bound DNA may stay assembled with nuclear matrix and is seen as “empty space” in electronic images. Together they could have important role in paternal chromatin structure following fertilization [10]. The nuclear pockets at the base of sperm head were proposed to function as proteolytic centers and the exit site from where the protein residues leave the nucleus and may be functionally connected with vacuoles [11, 12]

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